System, method and computer software product for estimating costs under health care plans

Abstract

In a system and method for estimating medical costs under at least one health plan, one or more user devices provide user health data entered by one or more users to a processor, and the processor provides estimated health plan cost data to the user device(s) to enable the user(s) to compare the costs and benefits of various health plan options available to the user(s). The processor includes an administrative module for receiving user account data and health plan data entered by an administrator; a calculation module for providing estimated cost data based upon the user health data; a user module for generating the estimated health plan cost data based upon the user health data, user account data, health plan data and estimated cost data and providing the estimated health plan cost data to the user device; and a database for storing the estimated health plan cost data, user health data, user account data, health plan data and estimated cost data. The user health data may include medical condition data, prescription data, prescription cost saving option data, healthcare provider selection data, historical user data, expected medical procedure data and/or expected durable medical equipment data. The user module calculates the estimated health plan cost data by adding all estimated cost data corresponding to the user health data and applying the health plan data and user account data to determine expected costs to the user under each health plan option available to the user. The user module may further calculate a recommended contribution to a flexible spending account or health savings account based upon the estimated health plan cost data and a tax savings amount associated with the recommended contribution to the flexible spending account or health savings account using income and tax status data provided by the user.

1 . A system for estimating medical costs under at least one health plan, comprising: 
 a user device for providing user health data entered by a user and obtaining estimated health plan cost data generated in response to the user health data; and    a processor for providing the estimated health plan cost data, wherein the processor includes    an administrative module for receiving user account data and health plan data entered by an administrator;    a calculation module for providing estimated cost data based upon the user health data;    a user module for generating the estimated health plan cost data based upon the user health data, user account data, health plan data and estimated cost data and providing the estimated health plan cost data to the user device; and    a database for storing the estimated health plan cost data, user health data, user account data, health plan data and estimated cost data,    wherein the user health data includes prescription data and prescription cost saving option data.    
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the user health data further includes medical condition data, expected medical procedure data or expected durable medical equipment data.  
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the calculation module provides estimated cost data for at least one expected future medical procedure, expected future prescription, or expected future use of durable medical equipment based upon the user health data.  
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the user module calculates the estimated health plan cost data by adding all estimated cost data corresponding to the user health data and applying the health plan data an user account data to determine expected costs to the user under at least one health plan.  
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the estimated health plan cost data includes comparative healthcare costs for the user under two or more health plans.  
   
   
       6 . A system for estimating medical costs under at least one health plan, comprising: 
 a device for providing user health data entered by a user and obtaining estimated health plan cost data generated in response to the user health data; and    a processor for providing the estimated health plan cost data, wherein the processor includes    an administrative module for receiving user account data and health plan data entered by an administrator;    a calculation module for providing estimated cost data based upon the user health data;    a user module for generating the estimated health plan cost data based upon the user health data, user account data, health plan data and estimated cost data and providing the estimated health plan cost data to the user device; and    a database for storing the estimated health plan cost data, user health data, user account data, health plan data and estimated cost data,    wherein the user health data includes health care provider selection data.    
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the user health data includes medical condition data, prescription data, expected medical procedure data or expected durable medical equipment data.  
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the calculating means provides estimated cost data for at least one expected future medical procedure, expected future prescription, or expected future use of durable medical equipment based upon the user health data.  
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the estimating means calculates the estimated health plan cost data by adding all estimated cost data corresponding to the user health data and applying the health plan data an user account data to determine expected costs to the user under at least one health plan.  
   
   
       10 . A system for estimating medical costs under at least one health plan, comprising: 
 a user device for providing user health data entered by a user and obtaining estimated health plan cost data generated in response to the user health data; and    a processor for providing the estimated health plan cost data, wherein the processor includes    an administrative module for receiving user account data and health plan data entered by an administrator;    a module for receiving historical user data;    a calculation module for providing estimated cost data based upon the user health data;    a user module for generating the estimated health plan cost data based upon the user health data, historical user data, user account data, health plan data and estimated cost data and providing the estimated health plan cost data to the user device; and    a database for storing the estimated health plan cost data, user health data, user account data, health plan data and estimated cost data,    wherein the user health data includes prescription data and prescription cost saving option data.    
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the user health data includes medical condition data, prescription data, expected medical procedure data or expected durable medical equipment data.  
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the calculating means provides estimated cost data for at least one expected future medical procedure, expected future prescription, or expected future use of durable medical equipment based upon the user health data.  
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the estimating means calculates the estimated health plan cost data by adding all estimated cost data corresponding to the user health data and applying the health plan data an user account data to determine expected costs to the user under at least one health plan.  
   
   
       14 . A computer software product for estimating medical costs under at least one health plan, wherein, when run on a computer, the computer software product performs the steps of: 
 receiving user health data entered by a user;    receiving user account data and health plan data entered by an administrator;    generating estimated cost data based upon the user health data;    generating estimated health plan cost data based upon the user health data, user account data, health plan data and estimated cost data; and    providing the estimated health plan cost data to the user, wherein the user health data includes prescription data and prescription cost saving option data.    
   
   
       15 . A computer software product for estimating medical costs under at least one health plan, wherein, when run on a computer, the computer software product performs the steps of: 
 receiving user health data entered by a user;    receiving user account data and health plan data entered by an administrator;    generating estimated cost data based upon the user health data;    generating estimated health plan cost data based upon the user health data, user account data, health plan data and estimated cost data; and    providing the estimated health plan cost data to the user,    wherein the user health data includes health care provider selection data.    
   
   
       16 . A computer software product for estimating medical costs under at least one health plan, wherein, when run on a computer, the computer software product performs the steps of: 
 receiving user health data entered by a user;    receiving historical user data;    receiving user account data and health plan data entered by an administrator;    generating estimated cost data based upon the user health data;    generating estimated health plan cost data based upon the user health data, historical user data, user account data, health plan data and estimated cost data; and    providing the estimated health plan cost data to the user.